Perhaps the only thing that changes more rapidly than technology in today's amped-up digital environment is the terminology used to describe that technology and its impact on consumers--and marketers. One recent example is the advent of the term "omnichannel" marketing, which many struggle to differentiate from another relatively recent term--"multichannel" marketing. Still, those who are most enmeshed in the field say there is a key distinction between the two, and it's one that will have an impact on marketers as they continue to seek ways of having a meaningful impact on the consumers they hope to engage. And, importantly, it's less about technology than it may seem.

Endeavor Releases Encompass XML Search API

Endeavor Information Systems has announced the availability of the ENCompass Outbound XML Search API, an application programming interface (API) designed to provide a mechanism for institutions and vendors to build their own XML gateways to the ENCompass system for managing, searching, and linking collections. The ENCompass Outbound XML Search API provides a standard method for ENCompass and other data providers to exchange search requests and responses using XML technology. The ENCompass Outbound XML Search API is available now with ENCompass release 3.5.

The ENCompass Outbound XML Search API is intended to provide new opportunities for libraries and library vendors to share information with end-users. Library vendors, such as publishers or database providers, can take advantage of the ENCompass Outbound XML Search API to rapidly develop XML gateways to their collections of content, allowing access to more resources through ENCompass. ENCompass customer libraries can use the ENCompass Outbound XML Search API to develop an XML gateway to local databases, such as dissertation collections or grey literature databases, that can be accessed through a federated search.